Belize's Surprising Stance On Free College Education

Belize's education system is based on the British model, with influences from the US syllabus, primarily through the Jesuits. The system is divided into five sectors: preschool, primary school, secondary school, tertiary (junior colleges/sixth forms), and adult and continuing education. Primary education is free and compulsory for children aged 5 to 14, although expenses such as uniforms, books, and fees can be a financial burden on low-income families. Secondary education is not free, and the costs can be prohibitive for many Belizean families. The government has made efforts to provide financial aid, but these have not been sufficient to support the majority of low-income students.

Primary education is free and compulsory for children aged 5-14

Belize's education system is based on the English model, with influences from the US academic syllabus, primarily through the Jesuits. The system is divided into five sectors: preschool, primary school, secondary school, tertiary (junior colleges/sixth forms), and adult and continuing education.

The primary school curriculum includes two years of "infant" classes, followed by six "standards". Infant 1 and Infant 2 are roughly equivalent to Kindergarten and 1st Grade in the US system. Standards 1-6 correspond to US grades 2-7. The average class size in primary schools is around 23 students per teacher.

In 2012-2013, there were approximately 68,812 students enrolled in primary schools in Belize. However, a significant minority of Belizean children do not complete primary school. This is often due to financial constraints, a lack of access to trained teachers, and inadequate educational resources in certain areas, particularly in the far south of the country.

The Belize Ministry of Education is responsible for the school system and works with volunteer agencies and church schools to ensure that all Belizeans have the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes for active participation in the nation's development. The Ministry has implemented various initiatives to improve the educational system, including the "Free Internet for Schools" program, which provides free internet connections to schools, and projects to digitize course materials to enhance the use of technology in classrooms.

Secondary education is not free and has high dropout rates

Secondary education in Belize is not free, and fees for books and other resources are often unaffordable for many families. This is a significant contributing factor to the high dropout rates seen in the country's secondary schools.

Belize's secondary education system is divided into four "forms", with the sixth form being a two-year post-secondary course that prepares students for university studies. However, the costs associated with secondary education mean that many students are unable to continue their studies beyond the compulsory primary level. In the 1980s, studies revealed that up to one-third of primary school students dropped out before turning 14, with dropout rates being notably higher in rural areas. Seasonal demands for agricultural labour in these areas often led students to opt for work instead of continuing their education.

Financial constraints are not the only reason for the high dropout rates. In some city schools, the dropout rate has reached 70%, with a lack of funds, poor discipline, and teenage pregnancy also playing a role. Furthermore, the secondary school curriculum and cultural orientation differ across institutions. Most private and denominational schools emphasise academic and commercial studies, while government-managed schools offer a curriculum oriented towards technical-vocational subjects. This variation in educational offerings may also influence a student's decision to continue their studies at the secondary level.

The high dropout rates in Belize's secondary schools have implications for the country's social and economic development. Francisco Carneiro, a representative of the World Bank, noted that improving the quality of secondary education could help reduce dropout rates and positively impact crime exposure and productivity growth.

The University of Belize is the country's largest higher education institution

Belize's education system is rooted in the English system but has been heavily influenced by the US academic syllabus, particularly through the Jesuits. The country's education system is governed by the Education Act (Chapter 36 of the Laws of Belize), which makes primary education free and compulsory through age 14. However, a significant minority of Belizean children do not complete primary school, and secondary schools and further education are not free.

The University of Belize (UB) is the national university of Belize and the country's largest higher education institution. It was established in August 2000 as an amalgamation of five tertiary-level institutions: the Belize Technical College, the Belize Teachers' College, the University College of Belize, the Belize School of Agriculture, and the Bliss School of Nursing. UB has campuses in several locations, including Belmopan City (Central Campus), Central Farm (Agriculture Campus), and Belize City. The university offers a range of academic programmes, from certificates and diplomas to bachelor's and graduate degrees. It has four main faculties: Faculty of Education and Arts, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Technology.

UB prides itself on delivering quality education at affordable rates to enable nation-building, academic advancement, and improved standards of living for Belize's citizens. The university is committed to accessibility and plays a crucial role in providing higher education opportunities for Belizeans, with over 4,000 students enrolled in its various programmes.

In addition to UB, other higher education institutions in Belize include community colleges, junior colleges, and private colleges like Galen University. However, higher education opportunities in Belize are limited, and only a small percentage of Belizeans pursue post-secondary education.

Belize's education system is influenced by the British model

The earliest records of formal education in Belize are from missionary efforts, mainly by Catholics, which became institutionalized between 1816 and 1892. During this initial period, the church-state partnership was established, with religious denominations competing for influence over the population through education. The British government began providing funding for education in the Caribbean colonies in 1883, leading to a significant increase in the number of schools in Belize (then known as British Honduras) during the 1880s.

In the period between 1893 and 1934, Jesuit missionaries from the United States gained influence in Belize and spearheaded reforms to improve educational standards and increase funding. The intensification of inter-denominational rivalry and the growing influence of Jesuits characterized this phase. In 1934, the Director of Education in Jamaica visited British Honduras and proposed reforms to improve the educational system, which were implemented in the late 1930s.

The late 1940s and early 1950s saw the rise of a nationalist, anti-colonial movement that sought to decolonize the educational system and reduce reliance on foreign academic institutions. The Jesuits played a significant role in this movement, advocating for education reform to address social inequality between urban and rural areas. By the late 1950s, they had become the dominant influence at almost every level of formal education.

In the 1960s, the government began to take on a larger role in education as the needs of the system exceeded the capacity of the churches. This period also marked the transfer of power in education policy decision-making from British administrators and clerics to Belizeans. Belize achieved home rule in 1964, and the local government viewed education as a crucial tool for achieving independence peacefully. By the 1970s, the Belizean government had assumed full control over educational policy and established new schools, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels.

While the Belizean government now leads the education system, the country still faces challenges in providing universal access to quality education. Primary education is compulsory and free in some schools, but related expenses such as uniforms, books, and fees pose financial difficulties for low-income families. Secondary schools and vocational programs can only accommodate half of the students who complete primary education, and dropout rates are high, especially in urban areas. The government's efforts to provide financial aid have not been sufficient to support low-income families effectively.

The country's educational philosophies and practices are influenced by Jesuit institutions from the US

Belize's education system has its roots in the English system, but the country's educational philosophies and practices have been significantly influenced by Jesuit institutions from the US. This influence began during the second phase of the growth and transformation of Belizean education, between 1893 and 1934, when US Jesuit missionaries began to have a growing influence on education in the country. During this time, the intensification of denominational rivalry and the benign neglect of the colonial state allowed for the increasing influence of Jesuit missionaries.

Jesuit influence continued to grow in the following years, and by the late 1950s, they had emerged as the dominant influence at almost every level of formal education in Belize. The educational and social activities of the Jesuits influenced the rise of an anti-British, anti-colonial nationalist movement in the late 1940s and early 1950s. During this time, the Jesuits led efforts to address the elitist and urban-centered biases of post-primary education, which perpetuated social inequality and the dominance of Belize City over its primarily rural hinterland.

As the demand for education continued to grow, the Belizean government began to assume a more central role in establishing new schools, particularly at the secondary and tertiary levels. However, the expansion of educational opportunities outpaced the state's resources, leading to increased reliance on external aid, with the US providing the majority of this aid since 1981. This situation caused concerns among many Belizeans about the potential for a new form of imperialist control over the country.

Despite the government's efforts to increase its control over the education system, Jesuit influence continued to shape educational practices and rituals in Belize, even in traditional bastions of British pedagogy such as Anglican and Methodist secondary schools and the government-run Belize Technical College. Additionally, nearly 30 years of the Peace Corps and other US volunteer teachers have also left their mark on Belizean education culture.

Today, the University of Belize, Galen University, and the University College of Belize are among the institutions that contribute to the country's higher education landscape. The University College of Belize, established in partnership with Ferris State College of Big Rapids, Michigan, became a source of controversy when it was discovered that the institution lacked proper accreditation, leading to questions about the value of the degrees it had granted.

Frequently asked questions